Oregon Public Broadcasting

A newly-formed company announced plans Thursday to build a huge solar power project in central Washington. 

If the plans come to fruition, it would be by far the largest solar electric plant anywhere in the Northwest and perhaps the country.  Correspondent Tom Banse reports.

Rendering of proposed solar park near Cle Elum in central Washington.

The start up goes by the name Teanaway Solar Reserve LLC.  The firm proposes to install more than 400,000 solar panels on a parcel of previously logged private timberland near the central Washington town of Cle Elum. 

Managing director Howard Trott says yes, it is sunny enough to justify a utility scale solar park.

Howard Trott: "We kind of like the fact that people think we can't generate power and it's not sunny up here.  But we actually are a great source.  We have over 300 days of sunshine at the location."

Trott says Washington voters created a market for higher priced clean energy when they passed a citizens initiative a few years back. 

It requires utilities to add renewable power to their generating portfolios. 

The 400-acre solar park has no permits yet, but stands to benefit from an array of state and federal tax incentives.

With full sun, the facility could generate enough electricity to power 45,000 households.

The developer's ambitious construction schedule calls for the solar park to be operational as early as 2011.

Online:

Teanaway Solar Reserve